Motor vehicle body comprising a support structure made of large-size partial modules

ABSTRACT

A motor vehicle body includes a support structure made of large-sized partial modules. A roof module has front and rear roof columns placed onto a basic module approximately level with a side wall edge of the body, and the front and rear roof columns of the roof module are connected to one another via a respectively assigned cross member. In order to provide a support structure having a basic module for different roof structures, and to make the support structure very stiff with the roof module, the rear roof columns are connected to each other via a supporting plate of a rear parcel shelf which is stiffened by the assigned cross member.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a motor vehicle body.

A motor vehicle body described in German document DE 37 20 344 A1comprises a support structure made of large-size partial modules. A roofmodule of the support structure is placed via front and rear roofcolumns onto a basic module level with the side wall edge, and the frontand rear roof columns are connected to one another via a respectivelyassigned cross member. In this case, the rear roof columns are connectedto one another via a rear parcel shelf which is stiffened by theassigned cross member.

A body which comprises a support structure made of large-size partialmodules is already known from European document EP 0 250 678 B1. One ofthe partial modules is a roof module which is placed with front and rearroof columns onto a basic module approximately level with the side walledge of the body. In this case, the front and rear roof columns areconnected to one another via a respectively assigned cross member inorder to stiffen the roof module.

An object of the invention is the provision of a body comprising asupport structure which is embodied in a very stiff manner in the regionin which chassis forces are introduced by the rear axle.

This object is achieved according to the invention.

Advantageous refinements of the invention are apparent from the claims.

In the case of the support structure of the body according to theinvention, the rear roof columns are connected to one another via asupporting plate of a rear parcel shelf, as a result of which, first ofall, an improved stiffening of the rear roof columns of the roof moduleor of the entire assembled support structure arises. In this case, theat least one cross member is integrated into the supporting plate, as aresult of which an overall extremely stiff bond is created at the rearend of the roof module. The arrangement of the supporting plate on theroof module makes it possible, with the basic module structure arrangedbelow it, to omit transversely stiffening elements at the upper endthereof. In other words, those wall regions of the rear side walls ofthe basic module which adjoin the rear roof columns do not need to beconnected at their upper ends—for example via a cross member—with theresult that a clearance is provided between said wall regions. As aresult, the basic module is suitable, for example, for use for an openmotor vehicle, in which the clearance between said wall regions isrequired for a folding top compartment.

In the support structure of the body according to the invention, therear roof columns are connected to one another via a supporting plate ofa rear parcel shelf, as a result of which, first of all, an improvedstiffening of the rear roof columns of the roof module or of the entireassembled support structure arises. In this case, the at least one crossmember is integrated into the supporting plate, as a result of which anoverall extremely stiff bond is created at the rear end of the roofmodule. The arrangement of the supporting plate on the roof module makesit possible, with the basic module structure arranged below it, to omittransversely stiffening elements at the upper end thereof. In otherwords, those wall regions of the rear side walls of the basic modulewhich adjoin the rear roof columns do not need to be connected at theirupper ends—for example via a cross member—with the result that aclearance is provided between the wall regions. As a result, the basicmodule is suitable, for example, for use for an open motor vehicle, inwhich the clearance between the wall regions is required for a foldingtop compartment.

The support arrangement, which extends in the transverse direction ofthe vehicle and is closed by the supporting plate of the roof module toform a supporting frame, makes it possible for the rear region of thesupport structure, into which chassis forces are introduced by the rearaxle, to be embodied in a very stiff manner. In this case, the chassisforces can be introduced particularly readily into the supporting frameor the support structure, since supports are provided which run in thevertical direction of the vehicle, are connected to one another via across member level with a vehicle floor, and are arranged on the insideof rear wheel houses.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention are apparentfrom the description below of a preferred embodiment and with referenceto the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective exploded illustration of the supportstructure of the motor vehicle body according to the invention, whichsupport structure is made of large-size partial modules;

FIG. 2 shows a further perspective exploded illustration of the supportstructure which is made of partial modules and is lined with outer panelparts;

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the roof module of the supportstructure; and

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the basic module of the supportstructure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows, in a perspective exploded illustration, a supportstructure 10 of a motor vehicle body which is assembled from a pluralityof large-size partial modules which are described in more detail below.In the exemplary embodiment shown here, the partial modules of thesupport structure 10 are produced in each case from a plurality ofsheet-metal parts which are joined together; at the same time, however,the partial modules may also be premanufactured in differentconstructions, for example as a “space frame”, as plastic parts, metalcast parts, as components in a “sandwich construction” or the like. Inparticular, combinations of different constructions for the partialmodules which are fitted together are also conceivable, depending on theapplication and loading. The individual modules are joined together inparticular via bonding connections, welding connections or the like. Atthe same time, other customary connections, such as screw connections orthe like, are conceivable.

A basic module 12 of the support structure 10 essentially comprises abody floor 14 which is bounded laterally by longitudinal members 16. Thebasic module 12 reaches forward as far as column sections 18 of frontwall columns which protrude upward from the respectively associatedfront ends of the lateral longitudinal members 16. The body floor 14 ofthe basic module 12 ends at a considerable distance behind the front endof the basic module 12 or behind the column sections 18 of the frontwall columns. At the rear, the basic module 12 ends behind rear wheelhouses 20, above which wall regions 24 of the particular rear side wallare arranged. The basic module 12 is already equipped as far as possiblewith the other partial modules before it is fitted together.

A front end module 22 which comprises a front end region 24 of the bodyfloor 14 and extends between lateral longitudinal member sections 26 ofthe front end module 22 is connected to the basic module 12. The frontend region 24 of the body floor 14 ends forward at a front end wall 28which extends to approximately level with the side wall edge and isbounded laterally by column sections 30 of the front wall columns. Atthe front ends of the front end module 22, front longitudinal members 32can be seen.

A roof module 34, which can be seen in overall view in FIG. 3, can beplaced onto the basic module 12 and the front end module 22 and herecomprises lateral A-columns 36, lateral roof struts 40 in the region ofthe roof 38, and C-columns 42. When the support structure 10 isassembled, the A-columns 36 are supported on the basic module 12 and onthe front end module 22.

At the rear, the basic module 12 is adjoined by a rear module 44 which,when the support structure 10 is assembled together with the rear endregion of the basic module 12, belongs to the rear crumple zone of themotor vehicle and bounds a trunk to the rear. The rear module 44essentially comprises lateral, rear longitudinal member sections 48, arear cross member 50 connecting the longitudinal member sections 48, andrear side wall regions 52. By means of a cross member 54 (explainedbelow) and the longitudinal members 16 of the basic module 12 and bymeans of the longitudinal member sections 48 and the rear cross member50 of the rear module 44, when the support structure is assembled aframe surrounding a spare wheel trough (not shown) is formed. It isapparent that the rear module 44 is connected to the basic module 12 andthe roof module 34 along a transverse plane of the vehicle runningvertically in each case. The rear module 44 is fastened to the basicmodule 12 and to the roof module 34 via flanges 56 on the longitudinalmembers 16 and on the associated longitudinal member sections 48, andalso via further joining points (not shown) between the modules 12, 34and 44. To the rear, the rear module 44 is adjoined by a rear end modulewith a bumper 58 which can be seen in FIG. 2.

A B-column 46 extends in each case between that roof strut 40 of theroof module 34 which laterally bounds the roof 38 and the laterallongitudinal member 16 of the basic module 12, which B-column isdesigned as a separate component and is to be fixed on the roof strut 40or on the lateral longitudinal member 16 during assembly of the partialmodules 12, 22, 34, 44.

FIG. 2 illustrates, in a further perspective exploded illustration, thesupport structure 10 which is assembled from the partial modules 12, 22,34, 44 and, in the region of the front and rear wings and of the sill,is lined with outer panel parts of plastic, sheet metal or the like.

In an overall view of FIG. 1 together with FIGS. 3 and 4, whichrespectively show the roof module 34 and the basic module 12 in aperspective view, it is apparent that the lower ends 59 of the C-pillars42 are supported on the respectively associated, upper end 61 of thewall regions 24, with the modules 12, 34 being connected to each otheralong joining surfaces, for example by means of a bonding connection.The joining surfaces and therefore the division of the two modules 12,34 run approximately level with the side wall edge of the body. It isapparent that the lower ends 59 of the C-columns 42 already form anupper section of the rear side wall 24.

The A-pillars 36 of the roof module 34 are connected to each other via across member 57 which bounds the end wall 28 upward. The rear roofcolumns 42, which are designed here as C-columns 42, are connected toeach other via a supporting plate 60 of a rear parcel shelf which runshere at least approximately in the horizontal direction. The supportingplate 60 is bounded to the front and rear by front and rear crossmembers 62, 64 and is stiffened by them. In this case, the supportingplate 60 at the lower ends 59 of the C-pillars 42 of the roof module 34runs approximately level with the side wall edge, with the lower ends 59of the C-columns 42 already having to be assigned to the side wallsections 24. It is also apparent in FIG. 3 that the roof module 34 endsdirectly behind the supporting plate 60 along the vertical separatingplane at which the rear module 44 adjoins the roof module 12. A rearseparating wall, which is bounded on the upper side by the cross member62, can be arranged on the front cross member 62 (FIG. 1). The rearcross member 64 is designed as the lower boundary for accommodating therear window.

It is apparent from FIG. 4 that the basic module 12 has a supportarrangement 66 which extends in the transverse direction of the vehicleand has the cross member 54 running level with the vehicle floor 14 andtwo supports 68, 70 arranged on the inside of the rear wheel houses 20in the vertical direction of the vehicle. By means of the supportingplate 60 of the roof module 34, this support arrangement 66 is closed toform a very stiff supporting frame, so that chassis forces introduced bythe rear axle can be very readily absorbed by the supporting frame. Inthe exemplary embodiment shown here, the front cross member 62 of thesupporting plate 60 is arranged precisely in the direction of extentwith the supports 68, 70 running in the vertical direction of thevehicle, and is connected directly to them.

1-8. (canceled)
 9. A motor vehicle body having a support structure madeof large-size partial modules comprising: a roof module having front andrear roof columns, a basic module onto which the roof module is placedwhich is approximately level with a side wall edge of the body,respectively assigned cross members via which the front and rear roofcolumns of the roof module are connected to one another, and asupporting plate of a rear parcel shelf which is stiffened by at leastone of the cross members via which the rear roof columns are connectedto one another, wherein the basic module comprises a support arrangementwhich extends in a transverse direction of the vehicle and is closed bythe supporting plate to form a supporting frame, and wherein the supportarrangement has supports which run in a vertical direction of thevehicle and are connected to each other via a further cross memberextending level with a vehicle floor.
 10. The body as claimed in claim9, wherein the supporting plate is bounded at front and rear ends by arespective one of the cross members.
 11. The body as claimed in claim 9,wherein the supports of the support arrangement are arranged on insidesof rear wheel houses.
 12. The body as claimed in claim 9, wherein thesupports of the support arrangement are connected directly to a frontcross member of the supporting plate.
 13. The body as claimed in claim9, wherein the supporting plate is arranged at lower ends of the rearroof columns between upper side wall sections of the roof module. 14.The body as claimed in claim 9, wherein the roof module ends along avertical separating plane directly behind the supporting plate, andwherein a rear module adjoins the roof module.